You
have a chance to join an effort to help our community grow economically.
The Astoria-Warrenton and Seaside Chambers of Commerce, the Oregon
Economic and Community Development Department, the Small Business
Development Center, Clatsop Community College, along with several
cities and Clatsop County are already involved.
Are existing small businesses critically important in local economic
development? Yes. Existing businesses are one of the United States
most important engines for economic growth. In an environment
where existing businesses create 60-80% of new jobs, they are
critical to a community's economic prosperity. A commitment to
existing businesses is also a commitment to working with businesses
that have already invested in the local community.
What is Business Retention & Expansion and more specifically
the BR&E Visitation Program? All efforts to encourage the
survival and growth of communities are a part of the BR&E
effort. There are many possible ways to encourage existing businesses,
including technical training for new employees, management seminars
for employees, helping identify local sources of supplies and
materials, encouraging better labor/management relations, reducing
cost and upgrading the quality of local government services, establishing
better school-workplace relations and fit, retaining youth in
the community, and many others. Becoming more productive and thus
more competitive, helps businesses stay ahead and profitable.
The BR&E visitation process has been effectively utilized
in several other Oregon counties as well as over 20 states as
a planning process for setting priorities that fit the needs of
local businesses, recognizing that few communities can do all
they would like to help existing businesses. Critical considerations
in the BR&E process include: what types of businesses exist
in the community, competitive pressures existing businesses face,
qualities of the local labor force, and the types of public services
currently available, among many other considerations.
What are the BR&E objectives? To demonstrate to local businesses
that the community appreciates their contribution, help existing
businesses solve problems, assist small businesses in using programs
aimed at helping them become more competitive, and to build community
capacity to sustain growth and development.
What is the process of BR&E visitations? The critical elements
of the process are: 1) organize a local task force, 2) recruit
and train business visitors, 3) visit businesses and provide immediate
follow-up, 4)review the surveys, data analysis and recommendations,
5) review outside sources of assistance, 6) hold a community commencement
meeting and orientation, 7) implement projects and assist firms.
The business visitation teams are trained to collect data directly
related to the survey itself. Because the survey is so extensive,
it provides clear focus on the needs of each business surveyed,
as well as the community and when analyzed together, a clear picture
of what's missing/needed by the community of existing businesses
comes into focus.
What roles do local citizens and leaders play in the BR&E
Visitation process? The "Overall Coordinator" is the
spark plug needed to start and maintain the process. The "Media
Coordinator" does as the title implies and coordinates the
media coverage issues. The "Visitation Coordinator"
organizes the task force and the Visitation Teams. The "Business
Resource Coordinator" organizes and coordinates the teams'
efforts to respond to urgent and immediate concerns of the businesses
surveyed. The "Milestone Meeting Coordinator" organizes
the task force retreat, the business resources meeting, and the
community Commencement meeting. The "Volunteer Visitor's"
visit selected existing businesses (preparation includes a 2 hour
orientation and training on how to interview business managers
and owners), and accepts an assignment of 2-4 businesses to interview
(approx. 1 hour each).
What benefits come to the volunteers as a result of the BR&E
program? Visits are fun! They also build personal networks, are
an excellent learning experience, and help bring the community
together.
What benefits come to the communities as a result of the BR&E
visitation program? The community will see improved public relations
with existing businesses, will help solve problems of immediate
concern to local businesses and increase profits, reduce costs,
increase values, create a conduit for providing financing assistance,
will help with the establishment of better communications training
to improve local worker job skills, identify and build consensus
on high priority projects, and increase the capacity of the community
to BR&E efforts.
Who else is involved? Oregon State University provides technical
support and assistance, including survey customization, while
Carolyn Sanko, being provided by PacifiCorp, will be our BR&E
Visitation professionally trained consultant.
To participate or if you just want to learn more, Please call.
n
Business Retention & Expansion Program
Next Meeting: Wednesday,
Dec 8th 10a - noon, SBDC, SCC, CCC
Contact: Greg Panichello, SBDC,
503/738-3347
Astoria/Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce, 503/325-6311
Seaside Chamber of Commerce,
503/738-6391
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